April 21, 2026 - 1 Chronicles 18-21

An interesting note:  “Satan stood up against Israel and incited David to count the people of Israel . . . [which] was evil in God’s sight, so He afflicted Israel” (21:1,7).  This is one of the difficult texts in the OT.  Here’s what I think is going on, though.  In numbering the people, particularly those who could go out to war, David was turning from a full trust in God and to his own devices.  How faithful God had shown himself to be, time and time again, yet David fails to trust him to continue to be the same as he always had been.  David does seem to come back to a trust in God, however, as he always seemed to do.  When presented with the different options for punishment, he responded:  “I have great anxiety.  Please, let me fall into the Lord’s hand because His mercies are very great, but don’t let me fall into human hands” (21:13).  Always better to be in the Lord’s hands!  David penned his own hymn in which he acknowledged his arrogance and turned to the Lord.

            6        As for me, I said in my prosperity,

      “I shall never be moved.”

            7       By your favor, O LORD,

      you made my mountain stand strong;

                  you hid your face;

      I was dismayed.

            8       To you, O LORD, I cry

      and to the Lord I plead for mercy:

            9       “What profit is there in my death,

      if I go down to the pit?

                  Will the dust praise you?

      Will it tell of your faithfulness?

            10       Hear, O LORD, and be merciful to me!

      O LORD, be my helper!”

            11       You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;

      you have loosed my sackcloth

      and clothed me with gladness,

            12       that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent.

      O LORD my God, I will give thanks to you forever!  (Psalm 30:6-12)